It was a professional 40 day surveillance of an editor. I have spoken to Peter Bruce and it is very clear this is a tactic to intimidate.

— Barry Bateman, EWN reporter

Bateman says it seems state resources are used to spy on journalists because the document that was uploaded on these looked like a document from the State Security Agency. He says after he approached State Security Agency for comment the document was removed and was replaced by another one of a different format.

Leader of the Democratic Alliance Mmusi Maimane says it is concerning that President Jacob Zuma is copying everything that Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is doing.

He says he wouldn't be surprised if what is happening currently where journalists are spied on could start happening to political leaders of the opposition parties.

It is time that all of us as South Africans recognise that our state has been sold off and we need to remove the ANC collectively soon rather than later.

— Mmusi Maimane, Leader of the DA

All these acts of intimidation is the reason Jacob Zuma believes they can govern forever like any other dictator ...